GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Punahou's Zach Kometani bumped fists with teammate Reece Kiriu after hitting a home run against the Maryknoll yesterday.
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Punahou finds another pitcher
An abrupt change of pitchers, along with the quirky outfield dimensions of Francis Williams Damon Field, could have spelled trouble for top-ranked Punahou against upset-minded Maryknoll yesterday.
Instead, Jeremy Fujimoto made a surprise appearance in the second inning and went on to strike out 10 Spartans as the Buffanblu overpowered Maryknoll 13-0 on Mid-Pacific's diamond. Punahou improved to 3-0 in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu (16-4-1 overall) and will take on Mid-Pacific in a key showdown tomorrow at Ala Wai Field.
"His breaking stuff is impressive. When he's throwing the curveball over for strikes, he's very tough to hit," Maryknoll coach Kevin Uyehara said.
Freshman Trevor Saiki had the only hit for Maryknoll (0-3).
Fujimoto came on in relief of Reece Kiriu, who started and pitched one stellar inning. Fujimoto, a junior, walked just one and allowed the Spartans' lone base hit in five innings -- his longest stint as a varsity hurler.
"Usually, my problem is not throwing strikes. It felt like I could get my curve and splitter over today," the right-hander said.
Fujimoto, who was the ace of Punahou's Babe Ruth team last summer, fanned nine of the first 13 batters he faced.
"He and (Evan) Lim are the main guys next year," coach Eric Kadooka said. "We need to get these guys some work."
Kiriu was one of four Buffanblu players to swat homers at the friendly confines of Damon Field, where the outer limits are 320 feet to left and 334 feet to center. Kiriu's two-run shot to left gave Punahou a 2-0 lead in the opening frame.
In the third inning, Matt Suiter walked, Joshua Bninski doubled off the center-field fence and Zach Kometani drilled a three-run homer to left for a 5-0 Punahou lead.
After pinch hitter Jeremy Ioane hit a two-strike single to center, Bninski added a two-run homer of his own. His deep blast to center gave Punahou a seven-run lead.
The Buffanblu, with a string of pinch hitters, tacked on five more runs in the final inning against Maryknoll starter Gavin Oyadomori and two relievers. Harrison "Jeeter" Ishida clouted a pinch-hit homer to center.
"He hadn't been hitting well lately," Kadooka said of late appearances by Ishida and Paul Snieder. "Paul's been sick. Saturday's a big game and I want 'em to get some live pitching."
Mid-Pacific, ranked No. 2 in the Star-Bulletin Baseball Top 10, may start ace Matt McDaniel against the Buffanblu. Punahou has a choice of Snieder, Ishida or perhaps even Kiriu thanks to the superlative performance by Fujimoto.
Maryknoll is the lone ILH team that will have a berth in the Division II state championships. That's part of the reason why Uyehara found it easy to look ahead. Though the Spartans play all of the ILH's D-I teams in the regular season, they'll be salty by the postseason.
Five of Maryknoll's nine starters are freshmen or sophomores.
At Mid-Pacific Institute
Punahou (3-0) |
203 |
012 |
5 |
-- |
13 |
16 |
0
|
Maryknoll (0-3) |
000 |
000 |
0 |
-- |
0 |
1 |
3 |
Reece Kiriu, Jeremy Fujimoto (2), Eban Yamamoto (7) and Tyler Young, Nick Lee (6). Gavin Oyadomori, Jeff Hagino (7), Jordan Kurokawa (7) and David Nishiki.
W--Fujimoto. L--Oyadomori.
Leading hitters--Punahou: Joshua Bninski 2-4, HR, 2B, 3 RBIs, 2 runs; Young 2-3; Kiriu 1-1, HR, 2 RBIs; Kometani HR, 3 RBIs; Harrison Ishida HR, 2 RBIs. Maryknoll: Trevor Saiki 1-2.
Kamehameha 9, Damien 3
Kamehameha jumped on Damien for six runs in the first three innings to drop the Monarchs to 0-3 in league play.
Kamehameha's Tucker Troy limited Damien to one run in five innings.
At Ala Wai Park
Kamehameha (2-1) |
312 |
030 |
|
0 -- 9 |
|
9 |
1
|
Damien (0-3) |
000 |
102 |
|
0 -- 3 |
|
8 |
2 |
Tucker Troy, David Lee (5) and Keanu Carmichael. Travis Derby, Isaac Ventura (3), Taylor Kauweloa (6) and Darby Ventura.
W--Troy. L--Derby.
Leading hitters--Kamehameha: Arlie Johnson 2-3, 3b, 3 RBIs; Kalei Hanawahine 2 runs; Michael Tokunaga 2-2, 2 RBIs, 2 SB, 2 runs; T.C. Campbell 3b, 2 runs; Kapena Kalehuawehe-Gomes 2 SB. Damien: Michael Memea 2-2, 2 2b; Travis Derby 2-3, 2 runs; Taylor Kauweloa 2 RBIs.
ILH
|
W |
L
|
Punahou |
3 |
0
|
Mid-Pacific |
2 |
0
|
Saint Louis |
2 |
0
|
Kamehameha |
2 |
1
|
Pac-Five |
1 |
1
|
Iolani |
0 |
2
|
Damien |
0 |
3
|
Maryknoll |
0 |
3 |